7 Best Christmas Songs

In the spirit of the season, I've chosen the seven best Christmas songs (or, the best in my opinion) as a lead up to my best songs of 2008.


All I Want For Christmas Is You -- Vince Vance and the Valiants
Yes, I chose this one instead of the Mariah Carey classic. They're completely different songs, but with the same gist: I don't want gifts, all Santa needs to bring me is you. I like the Valiants' version because its a bit more expressive, lyrical, and not dependent on the vocal acrobatics of its singer.


Happy Christmas (War Is Over) -- John Lennon
It's not Christmas until I hear this song. It's one of those that evokes such strong memories of childhood and innocence in me that I nearly always cry when I hear it. Aside from Yoko warbling in the background (which does dampen the effect a little bit), it's a well crafted song. The opening orchestration is striking. John singing, with just a guitar and a shaker in the background. You know you're listening to a good radio station when they play the whole ending -- the last chorus of "war is over" dies down, the children start cheering, chanting "Happy Christmas! Happy Christmas!" It's seldom that a Christmas song with such a strong (read: non-subtle) anti-war message would become a classic of the masses, but that shows how strong John Lennon's appeal was, and still is. I'm pretty sure this song lands on a lot of people's favorites list, regardless of where they live or what they believe in.


Do They Know It's Christmas? (Feed The World) -- Band Aid
The Onion AV Club called this one of the most self indulgent charity songs ever, but I really don't care about that. The beginning may be humorous, with Bono and Sting and Boy George all singing very dramatically, and then there are some people singing that no one knows, that time has forgotten. And then there are the lyrics. "When the only water flowing is the bitter stream of tears. Tonight thank God it's them instead of you. And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time. The greatest gift they'll get this year is life." And there are some lyrics about the only bells ringing are the funeral bells. It's both funny, self-important, and horribly morbid at the same time. Merry Christmas!! But why is this song on my list? The music, and the chorus. And that it's one of my dad's favorites of all time. But that last part notwithstanding, it is the music and the chorus. Yes, it's also self indulgent. "Feed the world...let them know it's Christmas time..." Nothing beats a chorus of people singing a chorus. It's a great example of what made 80s music simply irresistable (no pun intended).


Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree -- Brenda Lee
There are many pretenders to the throne, but Brenda Lee has the rightful claim. She is the originator of this song. Her perky, peppy little voice gives this cute little number more holiday spirit than a gaggle of elves.


Feliz Navidad -- Jose Feliciano
For a song that only has four lines, it sure is a picker-upper. It is unrestrained in its happiness. I can't help but smile when I hear it. I also can't help but imagine Sesame Street characters figure skating to this song, which is how "Christmas Eve on Sesame Street" opens. I unashamedly car dance to this one.


Merry Christmas, Darling -- The Carpenters
Do the Carpenters do anything that's not filled with longing and sadness? Jesus. I guess their original Christmas hit should be no different. Karen is sad, because she and her beau are apart at Christmas. I can't imagine why they would be, though. If he's at war, I feel like that would be mentioned, because that spells instant hit for Christmas songs. Does he not care for her that much? Because if that was true, I don't think there'd be a song. Regardless, I could listen to Karen sing the phone book. Has anyone else heard their Christmas album? Even when she sings happy Christmas songs like "Home for the Holidays" or "Winter Wonderland", there's still a sense of sadness to them. Shouldn't that have been everyone's first clue?


Snoopy vs. the Red Baron (Christmas Bells) -- Royal Guardsmen
I saved what might be my favorite for last. The Royal Guardsmen did a series of these Snoopy and the Red Baron songs, novelty band that they were. But their Christmas version never fails to make me cry. Which is strange, considering the peppiness of the song. The combination of the music and the lyrics are perfect. Snoopy is out there on Christmas Eve. He's flying, but he's got ice on his wings. The Red Baron has him in his site, he's ready to shoot and defeat his enemy, but he doesn't. The song posits that it's due to the Christmas bells from the village below. The Red Baron (who I always imagine as the be-goggled, be-scarfed guy from the Red Baron Pizza boxes) forces Snoopy (who I have never been able to imagine as anything but an animated beagle) to land by the Rhine, which is behind enemy lines (see the rhyme?!). Instead of killing him, which is what Snoopy thought he'd do, he cries out "Merry Christmas, mein friend!" Which is so fucking adorable. They drink a toast, get back in their planes, and fly off, knowing they'd meet again. The song is so great, and the message is something that I don't think would ever happen these days, given who the US is given to fighting. But it's nice to imagine. And the chorus? "CHRISTMAS BELLS THOSE CHRISTMAS BELLS, RINGING THROUGH THE LAND!!! BRINGING PEACE TO ALL THE WORLD, AND GOODWILL TO MAN!!"